Electric outlet conduit



June 3, 1941.. P. M. rHoRN Erm. 2,243,990

ELECTRIC OUTLET CONDUIT Filed Aug. 6. 19,158y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL "u wie).

INVENTOR.

if Pfcy 44. 7km/v l j f ALEM/msn Pneu/w 27 i BY HE//vz REC/ 52 4%, m a@ 23 ATTORNEY June 3, 1941. P. M. THoRN :TAL 2,243,990

ELECTRIC OUTLET CONDUIT Filed Aug. e, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Piney/M. THOR/v ALEM/vnf? PMU/w /E/Nz REC/ffl? ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1941 ELECTRIC OUTLET CONDUIT Percy M. Thorn, New Rochelle, andhlexander Parlini, Woodside, Long Island. N. Y., and Heinz dzewwd.

Becker, Bl

l N. J.; said y Becker assignent to said Thom i Parlini and Application August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,446

SCIalms.

This invention relates to electric outlet conduits` It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved outlet conduit in which a standard outlet plug may be inserted at any' point desired throughout the length of the conduit andwhich will aiord a iirm electric contact at every point and which at the same time will insure that the conduit itself will be closed at all times except at the point where the plug has been inserted and will thus be free from liability of the entrance of dirt or water.

It is a further object to provide a device of the character described which will be practical and inexpensive to manufacture and which, nevertheless, will be eiiicient and attractive in appearance.

The invention Vaccordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, proper- (Cl. 17H34J) modiilcation without and with the prongs of the plug in place.

Figure 16 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Figures 14 and 15.

The device of this invention comprises primarily a longitudinal insulating strip 2li having a pair of channels 2l and 22 cut therein separated ties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller undertsanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conduit embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the same.

Figure 3 is a cross section similar to Figure 2 but with the prongs of the outlet plug in place.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section showing :i slightly modified i'orm of a portion of the dece. v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the manner of applying the conduit to the ceiling or side wall.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the closing strip used in the construction of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section on the line `1--1 of `Figure 6.

of the construction of Figures 11 and 12.

Figures 14 and 15 are cross sections of anotherl by a longitudinal dividing wall 23. Within each of these channels there is provided a continuous strip 24 of conducting material having a general cross section of a iigure 1 and as illustrated, the stern 25 of the figure 1 is against the central dividing wall 23 and the other end v26 or cross bal' of the figure 1 presses outwardly against the outer wall 21 or 28 of the channel. We prefer to place the stems toward the dividing wall in order to utilize this space between the prongs of the attachment plug to the best advantage and with this construction it is possible to make the distance between theouter walls 21 and 28 equal to the outside distance between the prongs of the plus.

The angularity of the cross. bar 26 of the conducting strip 24 is so chosen that when the prongs are inserted in place the stem will have a distinct angularity to the prongs so that the attempt to pull out the prongs increases the pressure of the conductingstrip against the prongs. Moreover. by reason of the fact that the conducting strip is continuous the insertion of the prongs does not give a permanent set to the metal of the conducting strip but instead the bending pressure is distributed throughout a considerable portion of the length of the conducting strip so that there is no danger of giving a permanent setto the metal of the conduct-ing strip by the insertion of the prongs. Means are provided for closing the outer end of the channels comprising a iiat strip of rubber 3B having a central rib 3| iittlng within a channel Ila in the end of the dividing wall 23 and a second bead 32 on the opposite face ofthe strip.` The lateral edges 3l of this rubber strip extend within a cutout portion 35 of the channels 2| and 22 and fit against an inside shoulder 3l carried by the end walls in such a manner as tightly to close the channels.

A longitudinal bar 31 of a width less than the distance between the prongs of the attachmentv plug is'used to hold the rubber strip 30 in place and this bar 11 is held in place by arms 38 which extend outwardlyfrom it at spaced intervals in position to engage beneath shoulders 39 upon the outer ends of the outside walls of the channel.

With this construction the device may be easily to engage the outer face of said channels to hold n said strip in place. Y

5. A device in accordance with claim 3 having n longitudinal block extending lengthwise of said conduit, said outer face of said channels being undercut to provide a second shoulder and said longitudinal block bearing against said rubbei' strip and havingspced arms extending outwardiy to engage said second undercut portion o1 sai'dlongitudinal strip to hold said rubber strip in place.

PERCY M. THORN. ALEXANDER PARLINI. HEINZ BECKER. 

